"You're not getting any younger. It's time you got married."
Atop Celestial Essence Mountain, an old man took out a yellowed marriage contract and handed it to the young man before him. "Fifteen years ago, while traveling through Jiangzhou, I arranged a marriage with the old master of the Li Family. Now, it's time for you to go down the mountain..."
Chen Dong was holding a rice bowl, his mouth stuffed to the brim.
He glanced at the marriage contract and shook his head repeatedly. "Wives are expensive! I'm not going."
"Foolish."
The old man scolded, "The Li Family is the most prominent of the four great families in Jiangzhou. If you can really become their prized son-in-law, you'll have an inexhaustible supply of wealth."
Chen Dong's eyes lit up. "Really?"
"Why would I lie to you?"
The old man shook his head in disappointment. "Since you're not willing, we can just call off the engagement."
He immediately moved to tear up the marriage contract.
Chen Dong tossed his bowl aside, snatched the contract, and stood up. "The lineage of our Celestial Profound Sect is fading. My generation has only one disciple left—me! How can I just stand by and do nothing?"
With that, he turned and started down the mountain.
The old man quickly asked, "Where are you going?"
Chen Dong paused and declared solemnly, "To spread our sect's branches and leaves!"
...
「Three days later.」
Following the address his master had given him, Chen Dong arrived at the Li Family Manor in Jiangzhou City.
Looking at the luxurious manor before him, Chen Dong grinned from ear to ear. 'Master really wasn't lying to me.'
'The Li Family is so damn rich.'
Just then, the roar of an engine sounded from behind him.
Chen Dong turned to see a silver Ferrari parked behind him.
The car door opened, and a woman in a black trench coat and tight jeans stepped out.
The woman had delicate features and a stunning face.
"Who are you?" the woman asked suspiciously, her crimson lips barely moving.
Chen Dong gave a sly grin and pulled the marriage contract from his clothes. "I'm Chen Tianyuan's disciple. I came down the mountain to marry the young miss of the Li Family. Could you please go announce me?"
Li Huiran's brows furrowed. She snatched the marriage contract and began to examine it closely.
Her own name was written right there on it.
Her grandfather had told her when she was young that she had a fiancé, but after so many years, she had long since forgotten.
'I can't believe he actually showed up today.'
Her almond-shaped eyes sized up the young man before her.
Disheveled hair, grimy face, dressed in coarse linen.
He didn't have a single gentlemanly bone in his body. He was not her type at all.
Li Huiran sighed. "Follow me."
'Even though I look down on him, this engagement was arranged by Grandpa. I can't just kick him out.'
Chen Dong followed Li Huiran into the Li Family Manor, looking around curiously the whole way.
When they reached the living room, Li Huiran took off her coat and said sternly, "My grandfather is critically ill right now. He doesn't have time to deal with our marriage."
"You just sit here quietly and don't touch anything."
Chen Dong was taken aback. "Huh? You're my fiancée?"
"That's right."
Chen Dong stroked his chin, his eyes narrowed as he looked Li Huiran up and down.
Li Huiran was repulsed by his gaze. She frowned and demanded, "What are you looking at?"
Chen Dong said with a hint of regret, "Your height is decent, and you're not bad-looking, but your ass is a bit small and your chest isn't very big."
"You..."
Li Huiran's face flushed crimson, and she clenched her delicate fists.
Chen Dong waved his hand magnanimously. "Although you're not my ideal type, seeing as your family is so rich, I suppose I can reluctantly accept you."
"Shameless..."
Li Huiran was so furious she was practically grinding her teeth.
'I haven't even rejected him yet, and he's already finding fault with me!'
She stomped furiously up to the second floor, a plan already forming in her mind.
'As soon as Grandpa gets better, I'll have him cancel this engagement immediately. What kind of person is he?'
Chen Dong shrugged, wondering where all her anger was coming from.
He plopped himself down on the expensive sofa.
Crossing his legs, he took in the Li Family's luxurious mansion.
Suddenly, Chen Dong sensed a thread of True Qi on the second floor that was on the verge of dissipating.
It was the sign of a person on the brink of death.
Curious, Chen Dong headed for the second floor.
Inside a spacious bedroom on the second floor.
Li Huiran wore a worried expression as she asked a white-haired old man beside her, "Divine Doctor Xue, how is my grandfather's condition?"
Xue Tianxiang stroked his beard, answering calmly, "Miss Li, the old master is merely having a relapse of an old illness. Once I use my silver needles to stimulate his acupoints, he will surely be fine."
A middle-aged man at their side offered comfort, "Huiran, don't worry. Divine Doctor Xue has miraculous hands. Your grandfather will be all right."
Hearing Xue Tianxiang's assurance and her father's comforting words, Li Huiran's anxious heart finally settled.
Xue Tianxiang confidently took a packet of silver needles from his medical kit.
Just as he was about to insert a needle into the old master's Baihui acupoint, he was interrupted by a sudden voice.
"If you go ahead with that needle, I'm afraid the old master's life will be cut short. Even if you 'cure' him, he'll only have a few months to live."
Upon hearing this, Xue Tianxiang's face darkened.
He whipped his head around.
Chen Dong was leaning against the doorframe, his arms crossed over his chest.
"Who are you? How dare you question me?"
Chen Dong chuckled. "I'm the fiancé of the Li Family's young miss, Chen Dong."
"Shut up."
Li Huiran was furious. "Who let you come up here?" she shouted. "How can you be so rude?"
Li Jianwen quickly stepped forward. "Divine Doctor Xue, this man is not my family's fiancé at all. Please, don't be angry."
Chen Dong shrugged. "I'm just telling the truth."
Li Jianwen shot him a fierce glare and shouted to a servant, "Throw this guy out!"
Hearing this, Xue Tianxiang raised a hand slightly. "Wait."
"Today, I will let him witness the art of bringing the dead back to life, and I'll make him understand that there's always someone better out there."
Li Jianwen breathed a sigh of relief and cupped his hands. "Divine Doctor Xue, you are truly magnanimous. We are humbled."
Chen Dong sighed and shook his head helplessly.
Xue Tianxiang drew a silver needle and inserted it into the old master's Baihui acupoint.
The next second, two more silver needles flashed out, piercing the Fengfu and Qihai acupoints respectively.
Just then, Chen Dong slipped a hand into his pocket, took out a silver needle, and, while no one was looking...
...he flicked his finger, sending it into the old master's Shenque Acupoint.
In a matter of moments, Xue Tianxiang had already inserted sixteen silver needles into the old master's body.
He let out a long breath and said slowly, "I have cleared the old master's blocked Qi and blood. He will wake up on his own in about six hours."
The moment Xue Tianxiang finished speaking...
...the old master on the bed slowly began to stir.
His eyes fluttered open.
Li Huiran was both shocked and overjoyed. She quickly leaned in closer. "Grandpa, you're awake? This is wonderful!"
Seeing this, Li Jianwen turned and gave Xue Tianxiang a deep bow. "Divine Doctor Xue's healing hands are truly miraculous! You are a man of divine skill!"
Xue Tianxiang's eyes went wide with disbelief.
'According to my calculations, the old master should have taken at least six hours to wake up... This... isn't he awake a little too quickly?'